Netilmicin in moderate to severe infections in newborns and infants: a study of efficacy, tolerance and pharmacokinetics.

49 newborns and infants were treated with netilmicin for verified or suspected infections. Infection was verified in 23 patients (mean gestational age 32 weeks and mean body weight 2100 g) and clinical cure or marked improvement occurred in 20 of these. Of the remaining 3 patients, 2 died, partly due to reasons unassociated with infection. 25 causative organisms were isolated and bacteriological elimination was achieved in 73% of the cases. At an average dose of 2.6 mg/kg twice a day, peak serum concentrations (30 min following injection) were 7.4 +/- 3.4 micrograms/ml. Serum half life was approximately 4.5 hours for infants born at term, and longer at shorter gestational age. Netilmicin is considered a safe and efficient aminoglycoside with a low rate of adverse effects.